For surviving stroke, Idowu Animashaun sings Thanksgiving

                                                   Idowu Animashaun

Juju musician-turned evangelist, Idowu Animashaun, is still fulfilling the musical side of his life, writes AKEEM LASISI

Fans of Apola King, Idowu Animashaun, who have been missing his deep, clear voice will be opportune to hear him sing again soon. There is a indication that the musician, who was a popular juju maestro before he became a born-again Christian, is planning to release a new album – a gospel album, though.

Perhaps unknown to many people, Animashaun did not really quit music, despite the fact that he became a full evangelist in 1985, after a memorable romance with juju, the genre he shared with other legends that include King Sunny Ade and Ebenezer Obey. Apart from preaching the gospel – as the President of the World Hope Ministry in Badeku, Ibadan – he has, in the past few years, produced six gospel albums. These include From Darkness to Light, God is Faithful and Ileri Oluwa. Now he is working on the seventh, which, he says, is very special to him.

Titled Thanksgiving, the album is his own way of expressing his gratitude to God for healing him when he suffered stroke in 2012.

“It happened in August,” the 75-year-old evangelist recalls in an interview with our correspondent. “I had heard various stories about stroke. But when it happened to me, I was back on my feet within 10 days.

“I was rehearsing with my music band when, all of a sudden, I discovered my voice was becoming weak and incoherent. I was rushed to the hospital, where I was diagnosed with stroke. But, as I said, after 10 days, I was back on my feet.”

Animashaun’s journey into the vineyard was a dramatic one. After recording 23 ‘secular’ elpees, many of which were straight hits, he had become a star by all standards. The musician, whose talent began to pave the way for him when he was still in primary school in Ota, Ogun State, had travelled within and outside the country several times to provide entertainment for his fans. It was, at that time, he notes, he got the call to go into missionary work.

“I would say it was not an easy thing to do.” He explains. “I did not obey God immediately. Although I became born again in 1981, I did not go into full time ministry until 1985. The period between 1981 and 85 was that of struggle between God and me. When God said so, I said no, especially when I was being directed to go and settle down in a remote place.

“The first time I travelled out of this country was in 1974. After that time, I went on tour most of the time. So, to be ordered to go to a remote place was definitely not what any man but God could do. I repeatedly asked myself, “I can I begin to say, ‘Come and contribute money for God’s work?’ It looked absurd to me.”

Animashaun, however, recalls that by the time he was struggling with God, things went bad for him. Among other ugly incidents, he had three road crashes in quick succession. He eventually lowered his harp and strings into one corner and headed for Badeku, a suburb of Ibadan, where the headquarters of his church was situated. Apart from preaching the gospel, the World Hope Ministry trains missionaries and sends them to remote places within and outside the country. It not only builds churches, it also establishes hospitals and schools.

He recalls facing many challenges only to triumph in the end. “God has been faithful, using people to bless the work,” he says.

Animashaun stresses that, unlike many other artistes, he did not inherit music from his parents. As a child, he could make good sounds from any object, thereby making her mother to wonder aloud what kind of child he was. When he joined the St James Anglican School, Ota band, his handling of instruments and songs showed that he was destined to be a star musician.

And that is why Animashaun, who played with highlife singer, Adeolu Akinsanya, became a toast of the Nigerian army when, from 1965, he played with and, indeed, led its social band. His rapport with the military made him a distant – but lucky – witness to the 1966 coups. Noting that the way he escaped falling victim to the coup makers shows that God had always been faithful to him, he adds that it was after the July coup that he formed his own musical group.

Many people believe that Animashaun’s Ijo Apola/ Ijo Olola’ is his best number. But his favourite song is actually ‘Apola de oloun aro/ Omo eriwo/ Apola de oloun aro o.’

“I love all my songs. But each time I listen to ‘Apola de oloun aro and Agba jo/ E je ka jojo’, I am always moved by the texture of my voice,” he enthuses.